About Atlanta, Georgia

With a population of about 5.4 million people, the Atlanta metropolitan area is the eighth largest city in the United States. Atlanta is located in northwestern Georgia in the southeastern United States.

The Atlanta area was originally settled in the late-1840's along a newly built train line. Over time, a series of railroads converged on the city and it became a major transportation and trading hub. Later, the city was the site of battles during the American Civil War and has played a sometimes unflattering role in the Civil Rights movement.

In recent years, the city has prospered as a rapidly growing commercial center. Numerous corporations are based in and around Atlanta, including several Fortune 100 companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Deport, and the United Parcel Service.

Atlanta remains a major transportation and trading hub. For instance, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport has become the world's busiest airport. The financial and media sectors are also substantial. Atlanta is also an important center for trade conventions and other business oriented meetings.

Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate. Summer daily high temperatures are normally in the high-80's (°F). Winter daily high temperatures are normally in the low- to mid-50's (°F). The city receives about 128 cm of precipitation per year.

In addition to the convention crowd, Atlanta attracts a healthy flow of domestic and international visitors. The city has a variety of attractions, including the world's largest indoor aquarium. Stone Mountain, just outside the city, is an unusual geological formation called a granite 'dome'. The dome rises about 800 feet above the surrounding flat terrain and forms the largest expose granite outcropping int he world.

Demographically, the Atlanta metropolitan area population is roughly 38% white, 57% African American, and 2% Asian. English is the most widely spoken language.

Atlanta is served by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).